Mar 19 Relocalculating New York City

More and more New Yorkers are leaving Manhattan behind to become part of the bridge and tunnel crowd

Here at relocality we care about getting people into the neighborhood that’s right for them.

Our current alpha version is limited to New York City, a perfect testing field for learning about people, neighborhoods and the connections between the two.

According to 2012 New York Census data for the first time since the 1950s more people moved into New York than out. It’s the reversion of a trend, also known as urban flight, that began after World War II and hit many big US cities. But recent years have shown that more and more people believe that living in an urban environment does not have to mean sacrificing quality of life. In New York City this has also meant shifts in population growth from borough to borough.

Brooklyn Bridge

Of the city's five boroughs Brooklyn gained the most newcomers, more than 60,000 residents. Gone are the days when moving to Brooklyn was akin to moving to the suburbs. Today families and investment bankers alike flock to Kings County in search of green spaces and affordable real estate, without having to give up the cultural and culinary offerings they are used to from Manhattan. Brooklyn is well established as an alternative to expensive Manhattan real estate prices and many new city residents head straight over the Brooklyn Bridge without even bothering to search for a new home in Manhattan.

Aerial view of the Bronx

But other boroughs are seeing an increasing influx too. The Bronx saw a population rise between 2010 and 2012 that is caused not just by more people moving into the borough, but also a decline in population losses that neared 20,000 just two decades ago.

As people are increasingly priced out of previously affordable markets they move deeper into the outer boroughs. In Brooklyn neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Park Slope or Caroll Gardens have long shed their image as up-and-coming areas and are now firmly established as desirable markets. As prices grow buyers and renters alike are exploring new territory and areas like Sunset Park, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Crown Heights are seeing an influx of new residents.

When real estate searchers venture into areas that they maybe hadn’t considered before they can feel overwhelmed by the task of finding out whether the location is a good fit for them. This is where relocality comes in - we want to match people to neighborhoods. Whether it’s brand new New Yorkers or long-time residents looking for the unique energy that comes along with a neighborhood in transition, this city is constantly in flux. And that is exactly what makes it the perfect lab for the development of our relocalculation engine.